Top 10 AR-15 Rifles 2014

Anyone in the market for a new AR should start with a Top 10 list and then narrow it down by sorting the wheat from the chaff. Like any good Top 10 list there is plenty of room for debate. There are models that should have been included and those that should have been left on the cutting room floor. So here are my top picks in no particular order. Your mission, should you be willing to accept it, is to put my list in proper order while feeling free to build your own list. However, if you want to swap out a different rifle for one of these, be sure to provide your reasons why.

You will be hard pressed to find a better dual piston AR-15 than the Ruger SR-556.

The Ruger SR-556 Carbine is an excellent choice for duty, defense, recreational, and competitive shooting applications. This fantastic dual-piston AR-15 incorporates a 16.12-inch hammer-forged chrome-lined mil-spec 41V45 barrel, lightweight adaptable handguard with 2×3-inch rail sections, Hogue Monogrip, chrome-plated bolt and one-piece carrier and extractor. The Ruger SR-556 has a solid reputation for being an ultra reliable, dependable semiauto rifle that is accurate and a joy to shoot. You will be hard pressed to find a better dual piston AR-15 than the Ruger SR-556.

The FBI and DEA have both opted for RRA rifles. What do they know that you don’t?

Rock River Arms makes some of the best AR-15 rifles in the world. After exhaustive testing, both the FBI and DEA turned to Rock River Arms for their patrol rifle contracts. The LAR-15 R3 Competition Rifle features an Operator A2 buttstock, flattop optic-ready upper and Hogue rubber pistol grip. It features a Top Rail Octagonal Free Float Handguard with an extended length of 15 inches and a low profile gas block. It has Rock River’s excellent two-stage trigger and an oversized winter trigger guard for gloved hands. The R3 Competition Rifle is chambered in .223 Wylde for exceptional accuracy and accepts .223 Remington or 5.56 NATO. This rifle is built for precision with an 18-inch cryogenically treated stainless steel fluted barrel featuring a 1:8 twist. It also has Rock Island’s directionally tuned and ported muzzle break with a 1/2-28 thread.

Daniel Defense’s DDM4 line has reached legendary status within the AR community. No collection could be complete without at least one…

Unable to find commercially available parts for his M16, Marty Daniel turned his lifelong enthusiasm for firearms into an internationally recognized company. From humble beginnings and a few small ideas, Daniel Defense has grown exponentially to become a mainstay in the firearms industry. The company’s flagship product, the DDM4 Carbine embodies the quintessential design for the modern sporting rifle. Built around a 16-inch cold hammer-forged barrel, the DDM4V9LW features a newly designed buttstock and pistol grip as well as Daniel Defense’s Tornado Cerakote finish.

Twice the features and performance at half-the price of competing premium AR-15s. Who could argue with that logic?

Windham Weaponry is pleased to offer you the Windham Weaponry CDI AR-15 variant. This particular build includes all the features you would expect to see in any other AR-15 built by Windham; however, this particular build includes a gorgeous Diamondhead free-float forend with a Magpul angled fore grip and a Vortex flash suppressor. Also sitting atop the rifle is the Diamondhead dual-aperture rear sight and Diamondhead front flip-up sight.

Few companies can claim and back up the statement, “Every component of every rifle is American made and designed” like DPMS. DPMS is a premier manufacturer and designer of excellent firearms built from the ground up for Americans by Americans. With a hands-on philosophy, its designs are crafted to stand up to rough use and abuse and still function and fire accurately. DPMS is definitely worthy of your hard-earned money.

Built for durability and to Mil-Spec requirements, the Stag Arms AR-15 Model 2 rifle is used by SWAT teams around the world as well as by soldiers in the war on terror. The Model 2 is made from top quality materials and has an upper made from A3 forged 7075 T6 aluminum. This Stag Arms rifle also comes with a lifetime warranty.

Bushmaster’s 16-inch barrel Modular Carbine combines many of the most popular items from the Bushmaster Modular Accessories System (B.M.A.S.) into a completely unique firearm.

Bushmaster’s 16-inch barrel Modular Carbines combines many of the most popular items from the Bushmaster Modular Accessories System (B.M.A.S.) into a unique firearm. Designed around an A3 type flattop upper, the modular carbine has a 16-inch chrome-lined, fluted barrel with milled gas block. A B.M.A.S. four rail free-floater forend, combined with the A3 type flattop upper receiver provides all the Picatinny rails necessary for sights, scopes or accessories. Molded rubber sure grips snap over the rail sections to add comfort and rail protection. The dual aperture B.M.A.S. rear flip-up sight is a detachable unit with a windage knob calibrated to 1/2 Minute of Adjustment. The B.M.A.S. front flip-up sight clamps around the milled gas block, and an ergonomically contoured pistol grip completes this special carbine.

Hunting, competition, defense—the M&P15 VTAC II does it all and comes fully equipped.

The S&W M&P15 is an excellent choice for hunting, competition, and defense. If this is what you are looking for, look no father than the Smith and Wesson M&P 15 VTAC II semiautomatic rifle. Using the famous VLTOR aftermarket upgrades gives you a precise rifle with nothing left to buy. Throw on your favorite optic or red dot and head out the door. Get more out of your shooting sports with this outstanding rifle.

If you want a rifle that is as close to what is currently being used by special operators around the world, then the Colt LE6920SOCOMII is the rifle for you.

If you want a rifle that is as close to what is currently being used by special operators around the world, then the Colt LE6920SOCOMII is the rifle for you. Built in Connecticut at the Colt factory, this gun starts out as a typical LE6920. Designed to meet and exceed Colt’s stringent testing and tolerances, it next gets a Daniel Defense RIS II rail interface system, designed specifically for U.S. Special Operations Command in order to meet the requirement of a free-floating barrel while providing the ability to attach an M203—probably not something you or I will ever need, but….

So there is my Top 10. Share yours in the comment section. And don’t worry, I intentionally left a major contender for the top spot off the list, so you should have plenty to work with.

Growing up in Pennsylvanias game-rich Allegany region, Dave Dolbee was introduced to whitetail hunting at a young age. At age 19 he bought his first bow while serving in the U.S. Navy, and began bowhunting after returning from Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Dave was a sponsored Pro Staff Shooter for several top archery companies during the 1990s and an Olympic hopeful holding up to 16 archery records at one point. During Daves writing career, he has written for several smaller publications as well as many major content providers such as Guns & Ammo, Shooting Times, Outdoor Life, Petersens Hunting, Rifle Shooter, Petersens Bowhunting, Bowhunter, Game & Fish magazines, Handguns, F.O.P Fraternal Order of Police, Archery Business, SHOT Business, OutdoorRoadmap.com, TheGearExpert.com and others. Dave is currently a staff writer for Cheaper Than Dirt!

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The mission of Cheaper Than Dirt!'s blog, "The Shooter's Log," is to provide information-not opinions-to our customers and the shooting community. We want you, our readers, to be able to make informed decisions. The information provided here does not represent the views of Cheaper Than Dirt!

Comments (190)

James S.

I’ve shot the Ruger, Colt, Daniel Defense, Rock River and Stag. Liked them all, especially the DD, but the Stag? What can I say about a company from whom I purchased (4) AR platform rifles (agency purchase) and (3), yes, (3), were defective. That was about (7) years ago, so I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and hope they’ve squared themselves away, both in quality and dishonest business practices. They were terrible for service, too. We ended up eating (1) of them, because we “waited too long to report the problem”. That was the response after (3) failed attempts to even reach anybody for service. Will never purchase another.

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